Family Photos

modernkidsblairfamily19

A few weeks ago, Sarah from Modern Kids Photography came to our home to shoot a family photo. We just got the results back and I’m so pleased with how they turned out! I had a hard time narrowing down the images to share with you.

Something fun: instead of shooting with a digital camera, Sarah decided to use film. I asked Sarah about it and she said, “These images were shot on a Contax 645. This is a medium format film camera that makes lovely negatives — about twice the size of 35mm film. The bigger the negative the prettier the results — typically. ;) I love film because the process is slower and makes me more thoughtful when shooting. I also loves the beautiful skin tones achieved with film.”

I’m pleased with the skin tones too! There is one of Baby June (2nd thumbnail, last row) where she is simply radiant and I want to eat her up.

If you’re looking for a great photographer of kids, I highly recommend Sarah. My children adored her and even insisted she stay for dinner! Sarah lives in San Francisco but photographs all over the US (and sometimes Europe). If you’re interested in a film shoot, reserve her quickly, because she only offers a limited number of film shoots per year. Want to see more of Sarah’s work? You can find her on Pinterest and on her blog too.

P.S. — Do you like the French Greys we wore? I’ll share all the sources in another post.

these are so lovely. and all i can think when i see the ones of just ralph is “when he becomes a famous movie maker he’s going to have all these awesome pictures of his ‘early years’ for his fans to admire and squeal at!” so cute. your kids look so much like you and your husband, it’s beautiful!

These photos are just stunning! I never would have thought of that color scheme – especially after the success of your brightly colored outfits in NY a couple years ago – but it looks just smashing. Your children are gorgeous!

J’adore! Those photos are beautiful. A treasure!
I have to admit that I was dubious about the grey clothing. I should have known that you were right on in your color choice! :)
you have a beautiful family. Thank you for sharing the photos!

Oh my dear, what treasures these are! I don’t know how you are getting anything done at all — it must be so tempting to drink these in all day long (yes, I realize that the moving version surrounds and delights you, but still………). This was a beautiful start to my day, and I am so happy that you and yours have these mini-masterpieces to cherish, as you do each other.

Such a departure from the last photo shoot in New York, but I love it. My favorites are the photo of all the children in the tree house, the last photo of the family against the red door, and the one of you holding June with the pacifier in her mouth. So lovely!

a few months in France and you all look so FRENCH. lovely and fun to see!
I like that the pictures are so natural and “normal”, specially with kids I have a hard time to see these super prepared, tons of props, shootings…
well done!

the first thing i was going to say when i saw a couple of these was, “is this film?” they are so very beautiful. your kids are gorgeous, your styling is spot-on as usual, just a perfect photo shoot. :)

i’m in awe of the beautiful work Sarah did and the amazing job you always do in selecting clothing — i’m always trying to remember different ways you dress your kiddos and mimic it with mine. you mentioned awhile back that you’ve always wanted to design a layette set and how much you love textile design — you definitely have the eye.

also, just out of curiosity — do you ever have to coax your kids into wearing a certain item of clothing? for instance, did oscar want to wear the scarf? it looks great, but i know my daughter is opinionated sometimes about what she’ll wear or how to do her hair (no ponytails!) and i don’t want her to feel like she’s my personal doll. :) even though sometimes i wish she was. :)

Absolutely beautiful! I love the second photo in, of the whole family. And the one of all the children standing on top of the tree house. And the one of you, Ben, and June. Baby June has the most beautiful eyes! And the one of Ben and the boys in the wheelbarrow. I guess I love them all. :)

oh my goodness!!! could you be any more GORGEOUS?!?!
what a stunningly beautiful family you have.
i love the choice of clothing and the muted colors.
different from what seems to be done as of late.
i may have to take a nod from this when we do our family photos at the end of summer.
these colors are divine!
little betty is a sweetheart!
there are so many sweet pics of her.
what a fun age she is… curious and playful.
and olive and maude!
wow… what beautiful young ladies they’re becoming!
do they ever put up a fight in how you dress them for these types of things?
i can choose our outfits to a tee and somehow, my 2 older girls will fight about something.
they have their own sense of style, it seems (which is good in a way too, right?).
and your boys!
great pic of ben blair with the two in the wheelbarrow! hee hee!
and baby june… always edible and adorable!
my favorite pic is the one of all the kids in the tree house!!!
SOOOO cute!
love them all!
thanks for sharing them with us!

What beautiful photos! I love the French grey color of the clothes, how the background colors of the house pop in the background, and how comfortable and confident your children seem in front of the camera. Love it all!

Such sweet loveliness!! Thank you for sharing. My favorites have to be the final family shot with the red in the background – Junes precious smile is to die for. I love love love the stunning shot of your daughter in the 2nd row, third from the end! Beautiful! And my other faves are the B&W of the girls walking in the garden and also of them in the wheelbarrow (minus June of course). And the boys in the wheelbarrow with dad! Amazing! Do you have a favorite? I bet it would be hard to choose!

Lovely, just LOVELY! What wonderful, timeless images on film. And how marvelous that you have documented not only your beautiful, growing family, but also your family *in* your home. :) So very special. You are truly blessed!

Absolutely stunning. Love the colors and the outfits. And the muddy air around some of the pictures. This is the best place to have such a shoot done with a family.
Pleas share details on where you got the girls and your outfits. I love them.

These photos are truly stunning! It is so refreshing to see that, in this overwhelmingly digital age, there are artists who remember the advantages of returning to old school tools and continue to implement them to create such beauty.

Absolutely beautiful. So many favorites! Really love the portrait of you and June outside and the bw pic of the girls running because of the”Sound of Music” quality.
A round of applause for the outfits and styling as well. Love your key necklace!

Ohhhhh I love these. Beautiful photos of a lovely family. I love how you dressed everyone… it adds to the timeless vintage feel. The film gave everything a great light and a perfect softness for the location. Absolutely stunning.

Beautiful pictures. Beautiful family. I think #2 is my favorite but they’re all really lovely. And wow, I feel like only a “real” photographer would be brave enough to use film instead of digital. Separates the men from the boys, so to speak.

Really gorgeous! And I love the fact that she photographed old school. You and your family look wonderful! The photos are gorgeous.. I also love how you’re all dressed up in such lovely soft toned clothing.

Oh you lucky thing – those photographs are stunning, beautiful, exquisite. Your photographer is a genius, how on earth does she get all those little eyes looking in the same direction? Our family photos always look like out takes!!!! Love it, what a treasure!!!

My goodness, these pictures are beautiful! The 4th one from the end…the one with you holding June…is just breathtaking. You’re making me want to cut my hair short, too. You look very Jacqueline Kennedy.

Stunning, charming, playful! I know others have used these words in previous comments, but these were the same thoughts that came to my mind when I first saw your lovely photos. The photos themselves are works of art, but I think photo # 28 (the one with you and baby June) would look amazing as a portrait painted on canvas… by the artist who lives/works in your lovely home, perhaps?

Very Lovely. French Grey’s? I can’t wait to hear more about that… It appears that you looked at the beautiful Stone pathway and just built around those colors… Stunning! Your blog is so uplifting, thank you for sharing your life’s experiences!

Stunning! The photography, composition, wardrobe and your family are all gorgeous. I am particularly fond of the graininess the black and white images have. There is something that makes them feel so timeless.

I didn’t realize I’d been reading here so long. The kids are really growing! I love how Maude & Olive look like best friends in that last one. And the one of Betty with the pearl necklace is amazing. Beautiful family!!

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My name is Gabrielle Blair. I'm a designer and mother of six. After 2 1/2 years in France, we just bought a home in Oakland, California. We call it The Treehouse. I post on where design and motherhood intersect.

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